California Median
$77,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $81,410
State Rank
#27 of 35
1,570 employed here
How much does a Locomotive Engineer make in California?
Locomotive Engineers in California take home a median of $77,070 annually — roughly $37.05 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $81,410.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $52,260 while the top 10% make $79,940 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $74,370 and $79,940 a year.
Locomotive Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,260 | $25.13 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $74,370 | $35.75 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,070 | $37.05 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $79,940 | $38.43 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,940 | $38.43 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 27th out of 35 states and territories for Locomotive Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Locomotive Engineer salary in other states
New York $109,220Massachusetts $108,790Mississippi $96,710Minnesota $93,700Illinois $93,320Indiana $92,790Florida $92,310Oklahoma $91,970Virginia $90,780Montana $90,220Iowa $89,970Arizona $89,840Colorado $89,360South Carolina $89,290New Mexico $88,330New Jersey $86,550Wisconsin $84,550Pennsylvania $82,460Tennessee $81,410Oregon $79,130Texas $79,000Arkansas $78,930Wyoming $78,910Missouri $78,820Kentucky $77,620Alabama $77,600Kansas $75,190Washington $73,750New Hampshire $70,670South Dakota $69,180West Virginia $64,400Louisiana $64,200Ohio $63,280North Carolina $61,190
Working as a Locomotive Engineer in California
Nationally, about 33,000 people work as Locomotive Engineers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($77,070) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Locomotive Engineer make in California?
The median Locomotive Engineer salary in California is $77,070 per year, or about $37.05 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $52,260 at the entry level to $79,940 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Locomotive Engineers about 5% less than the national median of $81,410. California ranks 27th out of 35 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Locomotive Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $77,070 a year. About 1,570 Locomotive Engineers are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Locomotive Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.